Los Angeles, May 13 (IANS): Oscar-winner Eddie Redmayne is reportedly in talks to play the lead role in the "Harry Potter" spin-off, titled “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”.

“The Theory of Everything” actor has been a top choice among several actors to play 'Newt' Scamander, the lead character in the spin-off, and is said to have read the script, reports aceshowbiz.com.

Marking J.K. Rowling's screenwriting debut, the film is inspired by Harry Potter's Hogwarts textbook "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" which follows Scamander, the schoolbook's fictitious author in the Potterverse.

Scamander is described as a "magiczoologist", which in the "Harry Potter" realm is a person who studies magical creatures.

The movie is set 70 years before the events of the "Harry Potter", but it is neither a sequel nor a prequel to the fantasy series.

The film will be a trilogy with David Yates expected to direct. He directed the last four Harry Potter movies.

“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” is planned to release in US on November 18, 2016.